Hi everyone,

I hope this isn’t a repeat question, but I couldn’t find much information specifically about using the dark start method with Fluval Bio-Stratum. This is my first time attempting a dark start, and I'm a bit uncertain about the process.

Has anyone here used Fluval Bio-Stratum before? Any experiences would be helpful!

Is it even necessary to do a dark start when using Bio-Stratum, considering it has very low ammonia leaching? Also, how long should I keep the dark start going the typical 4-6 weeks possibly shorter or just when ammonia is at zero ? Should I be adding liquid ammonia during this process to help with cycling, or is that unnecessary?

I’d appreciate any insights or experiences you all can share. Thanks in advance!

My new tank, looking for some taller plants to add to the background mostly, but if you have any other suggestions they are welcome.

Just some basics

29 gallon tank

I had it running for a while on the Fluval AquaSky 18 watt 24-36 inch light (I have a 20 long it will be going on for a low tech setup)

I’m considering between:

1. Fluval Plant 3.0 32 watt 24-34 inch

Or 2) Aquarium Co-op 30 inch (32 watt)

(Honorable mention: TWINSTAR, something like the S series or what ever top model, heard good things a while ago but now not to warm to them)

These are my options so far to replace the aquasky, my goal for this tank is to be a planted show tank of sorts compared to my tanks in the past.

With a WiFi timer the co-op light comes in to be about the same price. They are both waterproof, have decent warranties, claim to both have an optimal growth spectrum.

I’m partial to the Fluval because I have the old aquaksy and also another for a low tech 55. So they could all live on the same app/environment which I enjoy.

Any other lights to consider? Yes I know Amazon has some whacky no names out there and I have bought Nicrew for a reeftank setup or hygger air stones but for whatever reason I wanted to try and stick to a big name brand for this light as I always seems to have bad luck with grow lights for aquariums.

C02:

I’ve had plenty of low tech tanks but I’m planning on adding a C02 and opted to buy a package deal to avoid any hassle or confusion, I’m currently browsing Fzone and C02 art, I’ll probably go with a 5lb tank, if anyone else has any suggestions outside of those happy to consider them.

Tank goals:

Grow a thick carpet like Monte Carlo, I was considering dwarf baby tears but figured I’d want something a bit more robust and Hearty for my first attempt. If anything maybe I’ll do a shrimp nano later on with DBT.

Also I’d like to get a nice variety of high tech plants to really utilize the space. Haven’t done too much research on that yet as my first goal is a dry start with the carpet.

One question is that if I wanted to have some type of slow growing floater that would appreciate a high tech tank but also not stunt the carpet, is there anything currently out there like that? Or is it something I should even worry about because the focus should be brought to the other plants?

I don’t have a RODI system yet and plan on it once I get my reef tank setup but for now I recently moved and live on communal well, it is more filtered and treated than a standard well but it is still decently hard.

We have a water softner but I heard ideally i should be using potassium to recharge it vs sodium due to the tanks. Also due to the hard water I’ve avoided tank soil that would change the PH much and instead I’m option for a mix of inert fine gravel and sand mixed together. Between proper fertilization and allowing space for root development I figured it would work well, I actually had a very successful planted tank at my last house using the same setup for growing substrate.

One other note I hard water I bought a basic API Gh/Kh droplet style test kit for my water and the results were a bit confusing. Should I get a TDS meter? Is there a better test for KH/GH to get a baseline and make adjustments? I’m coming from amazing fresh Lake Michigan water to this so it’s a bit change from before.

Starting a corydora tank, and I really hope for a tank with a scape that doesn’t limit the open space the corydoras can sift through. I saw an amazing aquascape in a subreddit but cannot for the life of me find the user (sorry for using your picture). I currently have tanks with bonsai and a bonsai seller in my area. I’d like to have something similar to this with more cover for them, I’m open to lots of plants that suck up nutrients from the water column, emerged plants that can hang out at the top of my tank and stem plants! For root plants, I’m either planning to cap my aquasoil with sand but I’d much rather just stick with a sand and separated aquasoil substrate. Another option is to follow the tank and make a fluffy carpet they can rest at from the sides (monte carlo or pearlweed) I honestly love this, but would like to use an open middle space, while also providing plenty of cover. (though I do like the idea of the stones at the side separating everything I’d like to copy that but make it thinner so I can utilize the footing. I’m deadset on making a smaller area of the tank carpeted and separated by aquasoil.

I’m planning to set up a 4ft long tank, hopefully aquasoil capped with sand. I want it to be leveled instead of putting it in a mesh bag, can I just cut the mesh bag, put all the aquasoil and level it on my aquarium and then put the mesh bag on top, (two layers) and cap it all with sand?

Not currently running CO2 but may in the future. Light is a Fluval 3 and substrate is mix of Fluval and black sand.

I would like to know if I can add a little green light to my light setup, to improve the greens! I love how it’s going but I’m using a led lamp that is 4000k / grow light/ blue royal + a led lamp 6500k. Because of this combination my plants are amazing in my opinion, but the overall setup light is yellowish. THANKS!

My girlfriend has a 10 gallon tank with nothing but UG in it and we are starting to look into options for livestock. Right now it looks like the Windows XP wallpaper.

Will any animals be happy in this environment? Not just survive, but be actually happy?

We are considering Caridinas. Would that work?

Here is a picture of my tank. I have a lot of string algae on the plants. What are some good way to get rid of it other than manually?

I have an Amano shrimp, Nirite snail, and I think a common pond snail. (He lays a lot of egg sacs that I take out often). And 6 fish. The water test great so no spikes of ammonia or nitrates.

Stock: CRS No CO2 110L/30G

I’m looking for some carpeting plants ideas. My tank is 65g and I use CO2 injection and high level of lighting. I would like it to be under 2 inch tall. Thanks for your help.